Stuart Watson reflects on the action after a warm Ipswich Town 1-0 display against French side Nice
A SOLID BASE
We know that Kieran McKenna’s system has flex, so I don’t want to put too fine a point on the following, but this, to me, looked more like a 3-4-2-1 base than a 4-2-3-1.
The differences between the systems are subtle. We’re used to seeing both the inside left forward and right-back roll inside to turn the latter into the former. However, with right-back Ben Johnson playing the Wes Burns role, this did have more of defined wing-back feel to it.
Out of possession, Town’s shape often became a solid 5-4-1. It meant that much fewer chances were carved out from open play than usual (and the level of the opposition clearly has a big part in that), but also that things looked tighter defensively too.
There were a couple of scares either side of half-time – Mohamed-Ali Cho saw a penalty come back off the inside of the post after an Axel Tuanzebe foul in the box and George Edmundson cleared a Jonathan Clauss effort off the line – but beyond that the visitors were restricted to very few opportunities.
A slightly more pragmatic approach is undoubtedly going to be required at times in the unforgiving Premier League.
“I’ve spoken lots about how we’re going to have to try and keep our identity but also adapt,” said McKenna. “We’re not going to be able to open up the game as much every minute of every game pretty much like we did last season.
“I think anyone who has watched us for a good period of time will know that one or two positions can be tweaked and the system can look different but, in reality, nine or 10 of the roles are very, very similar.
“Sometimes we defend with a line of three, sometimes a line of four, sometimes a line of five.
“There were bits of the game today when we were super-aggressive and really defended big spaces and we were really, really brave. And there were times when we were defending a little bit lower and we made a back five a little bit earlier in our defensive structure with Ben dropping in.
“That was just something we wanted to look at over pre-season, to be honest. It gives us a different option, gives us a possibility to strengthen across the backline in certain situations and, of course, the chance to look at different personnel in different positions. It was a chance to look at Ben playing in a more advanced role than he has in the first couple of games.
“We’re going to need to be even more adaptable this year, not just in our system and the systems that we used, but also with the strategies that we use within that. Today was a good practice on certain bits of that.”
ANOTHER SET-PIECE GOAL
Set-piece goals have been a major part of the weaponry during Town’s rapid rise to the top-flight. Plenty of times they have proved the difference in fine margins affairs.
Jack Taylor’s winner against Hoffenheim originated from a short Leif Davis corner. One week on, another 1-0 victory was secured from a dead ball situation.
This time, Davis’ inswinger was contested in the air by George Edmundson and Axel Tuanzebe reacted quickest to smash the loose ball high into the net.
“We’re going to get fewer set pieces, so it’s of the utmost importance to be even more efficient with them,” said McKenna. “And we’re going to defend more, so we’re going to have to be even more resilient against our set plays.”
On the latter point, Town did well to repel a string of dead balls into their box. A prime example was when Edmundson headed a corner away and Marcus Harness charged down the follow-up shot.
GOING LONG
Town have added another move to their playbook thanks to two new signings being on the same wavelength,
Keeper Aro Muric is capable of pinging an accurate pass over the top, while speedy striker Liam Delap always looks to run off the last shoulder. On several occasions in this game that combination almost came off.
Pep Guardiola allegedly once said that ex-Man City youngster Muric was so good with his feet he could play as an outfielder. This game showed how much confidence the big Kosovan has with the ball at his feet. I think, like with Vaclav Hladky before, we’re going to have to take the rough with the smooth on that front. For every three or four superb passes there was one slightly uncomfortable moment.
Delap’s raw ingredients – power and pace – are clear to see. His highlights included leaping to control the ball on his chest in midair and then setting off to almost get on the end of a subsequent cross, spinning his marker just over the halfway line before driving into space and stinging the palms of the keeper and cushioning an awkward ball with an outstretched foot after jostling a burly centre-half for the aerial 50/50. I’m excited to see the £10m signing develop.
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
There’s no getting away from it, Town are light on numbers – particularly in attack – heading towards the big kick-off.
We already knew Nathan Broadhead would be out until October at the earliest after picking up a hamstring injury. Now McKenna has revealed that George Hirst faces at least eight weeks out after keyhole surgery on his knee.
Ali Al-Hamadi got his first minutes of pre-season in this game, having undergone adductor surgery in May, but looked very much behind his team-mates in terms of fitness and sharpness.
What that’s meant is that the door has opened for players who looked destined for the fringes or exit door.
Marcus Harness, who wasn’t even making the nine-man bench towards the back end of last season, produced another tidy pre-season display. At the moment, he’s one of just four fit senior players – along with Wes Burns, Conor Chaplin and Omari Hutchinson – vying for the two or three supporting roles around the lead striker.
Then there’s Freddie Ladapo. I thought a man who spent last season on loan at League One club Charlton was set to join the ‘contract terminated by mutual consent’ club. Instead, he’s featured in every pre-season game and looks determined to take his unlikely shot at the Premier League.
The 31-year-old looks in good nick. He almost charged down the keeper within seconds of coming on and was also unfortunate to see an angled shot come back off the inside of the post. Right now, there looks to be a good chance he’ll feature at some stage against Liverpool next week.
Roll your eyes if you want. Yes, the current shortage of forward players isn’t ideal, but it’s important that everyone fully gets behind those who are currently available. An unlikely hero could yet emerge. Make whoever pulls on the blue shirt next Saturday feel 10 feet tall.
BRING IT ON!
Town have shown in this pre-season that they are prepared to run towards adversity again.
Despite a couple of major injury blows and some transfer frustrations, the Blues have managed to record 1-0 wins against three sides preparing to play in Europe – Shakhtar Donetsk, Hoffenheim and Nice.
For context, Shakhtar beat Barcelona in the Champions League last season, Hoffenheim beat Bayern Munich in their Bundesliga finale, while Nice chalked up a win at PSG. They finished first, seventh and fifth respectively in top-flight leagues.
“I don’t base a review of pre-season on the results of the matches, that’s for sure, but there’s been some positives,” said McKenna. “We’ve had two good trips away and a really competitive fixture list.
“Everyone at the club is working incredibly hard to be as ready as we possibly can, but the reality is moving from the division we were in to the division we’re going to in the space of two years is an incredible jump.
“We’re really excited now for next Saturday.”
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